Roof vent shield

ABSTRACT

The roof vent shield is attached to the downslope side of an existing roof vent, to prevent the entrance of windblown moisture into the mouth of the vent. The shield includes an elongate panel disposed along the length of the vent, with the upper edges of the vent opening and panel forming a ventilation opening therebetween. The opposed ends of the panel include opposite vent attachment flanges, and the lower edge of the panel includes a roof attachment flange. The shield panel and its various attachment flanges may be formed of a single homogeneous sheet of material (galvanized steel, corrosion resistant steel, aluminum, etc.), or may be assembled from separate components at the time of manufacture. The shield panel is oriented at least generally normal to the plane of the roof when the device is installed, and may include reinforcing bends along its upper and lower edges for greater rigidity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to shields, guards, protective panels, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a roof vent shield configured for installation upon and adjacent to an existing roof vent.

2. Description of the Related Art

Roof vents are installed virtually universally upon the roofs of homes and other building structures in order to allow humidity and heat that build up immediately beneath the roof to escape. This maintains a drier and cooler environment in the attic area immediately beneath the roof surface, resulting in fewer problems with wood decay due to humidity and a reduction in air conditioning costs in warmer climates.

Virtually all such roof vents include a ventilation opening or passage along their downslope sides or ends, and nearly all include some form of internal baffling to reduce the entrance of windblown moisture (rain, snow, etc.) into the structure through the vent opening. However, standard, conventional vents have proven to be less than optimally effective at preventing the entrance of windblown precipitation into the structure. The problem is that if the wind happens to be blowing up the slope of the roof and into the downslope vent opening, it can often carry smaller particles of moisture into the vent opening, even carrying them beyond any baffles installed within the vent. This is particularly true in the case of snow, and the stronger the wind, the larger the particles of moisture that may be blown into the interior of the structure through the vent opening and past any baffling therein. While it is possible to reduce the chance of the entry of moisture into the structure by greatly increasing the convolutions in the air pathway through the vent and/or reducing the sizes of the air pathways to vary small diameters, the result is a large loss in ventilation efficiency due to the restriction of airflow through such a vent.

A vent assembly is found in Japanese Patent No. 55-33,523, published on Mar. 8, 1980. This publication describes (according to the drawings and English abstract) a ridge or crest vent assembly having a laterally sliding cap or closure thereover. The sliding cover is supported within a shallow V-shaped slot at each end of the vent. The cover is normally centered upon its supports at the centers of the V slots, allowing air to flow between the underlying vent and the sides of the cover. When the wind is sufficiently strong, it blows the cover downwind to cover the upwind side of the vents.

Another example of a roof vent is found in Japanese Patent No. 05-059,799, published on Mar. 9, 1993. According to the drawings and English abstract, this publication describes a ridge or crest vent having a large number of very small air channels formed of a corrugated material.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a roof vent shield solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The roof vent shield comprises an external panel having opposite first and second ends with flanges extending therefrom for attachment (e.g., by self-tapping screws, rivets, etc.) to the sides of an existing roof vent. The lower edge of the panel includes a lower edge flange providing for attachment to the underlying roof structure. The vent attachment flanges provide sufficient length to space the panel away from the vent opening toward the downslope side of the roof, with the upper edge of the vent shield panel and the upper edge of the vent defining a ventilation opening or passage therebetween.

The shield panel is oriented generally normal to the plane of the roof panel, when the shield is installed to the vent and underlying roof structure. The upper and lower edges of the shield panel are preferably bent and formed to provide additional strength and rigidity for the panel. The shield panel and its two opposed vent attachment flanges may be formed from a single sheet of material (e.g., galvanized steel, corrosion resistant steel, aluminum sheet, etc.), or may alternatively be formed as separate components and fastened together (e.g., spot welded, riveted, etc.) at the time of manufacture.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a roof vent shield according to the present invention, showing the shield attached to the downslope side of a conventional vent upon a tile roof.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation in section of a sloped roof having a vent installed thereon, showing the installation of a roof vent shield according to the present invention thereto.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises a shield adapted for installation to an existing slope-type roof vent upon a gabled roof of a structure. The shield secures to the sides of the existing vent and also to the roof of the structure, and shields the roof vent opening from the entry of windblown moisture and debris therein. The roof vent shield may be installed at the time of installation of the roof vent, if so desired, but the shield is a separate component from the vent per se, and may be installed at any time after the roof vent has been installed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively provide environmental perspective and side elevation sectional views of the roof vent shield 10 of the present invention installed upon, and secured to, a roof vent V and roof. The roof vent shield 10 may be installed with any type of roof to which the roof vent V has been installed, e.g., the tile roof TR of FIG. 1 or the shingle covered roof SR of FIG. 2.

The roof vent V shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is conventional, comprising a slope-type vent adapted for installation upon the slope of a gabled roof, as opposed to a ridge-type vent. However, it will be seen that the vent shield 10 may be installed immediately downslope of the vent opening of either type of vent, as desired. The slope vent V has opposite first and second ends E1 and E2 and an upper cover C with a ventilation opening lip L (FIG. 2) defining an underlying roof vent exit E between the lip L and underlying surface of the roof. (The roof vent opening or exit E is normally an exit for air being vented from the structure, but it could serve as the entrance for undesired windblown precipitation and/or debris if not for the present shield.) The roof vent V further includes an internal baffle B, intended to preclude entrance of wind blown moisture and debris through the interior of the vent V and roof opening RO (FIG. 2).

The roof vent shield 10 is an elongate shield panel 12 having a length or span substantially equal to that of the roof vent V in order to span the entire width of the roof vent V and its vent entrance opening E. The shield panel 12 includes mutually opposed first and second ends, respectively 14 and 16, and mutually opposed upper and lower edges, respectively 18 and 20, defining the dimensions of the panel 12. First and second roof vent attachment flanges 22 and 24 extend from the respective first and second ends 14 and 16 of the panel 12 substantially normal thereto and parallel to one another. As the span of the shield panel 12 is adapted to closely match the span or width of the roof vent V, it will be seen that the two attachment flanges 22 and 24 fit closely about the corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof vent V, capturing the roof vent V therebetween. The roof vent attachment flanges 22 and 24 are secured to the corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof vent V by conventional fasteners 26, e.g., self-tapping screws, blind rivets, etc.

The shield panel 12 and its two attachment flanges 22 and 24 may be formed of separate components and assembled together (e.g., spot welded, etc.) at the time of manufacture, but may also be stamped or otherwise formed of a single, homogeneous sheet of material, as the material and sheet thickness of the components 12, 22, and 24 are preferably essentially identical to one another. The material from which the present roof vent shield 10 is formed may be galvanized steel sheet, as is used in the formation of the majority of sheet metal components in roofing, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning, or may alternatively be formed of a lighter metal, such as aluminum sheet, or a more durable and corrosion resistant material, such as corrosion resistant (“stainless”) steel. Other materials have been used in the roofing industry, including copper sheet and plastic, and the roof vent shield 10 may also be formed from such materials.

It will be seen particularly in FIG. 2 of the drawings that the two attachment flanges 22 and 24 have sufficient length to be securely attached to the corresponding ends E1 and E2 of the roof vent V using a plurality of fasteners 26, while still spacing the shield panel 12 away from the entrance opening E of the roof vent V. The span between the shield panel 12 and the roof vent entrance or exit opening E, or more precisely between the vent opening lip L of the roof vent V and the ventilation opening flange (discussed further below) of the roof vent shield 10, defines a ventilation opening 28 therebetween, which communicates with the vent exit or entrance opening E of the roof vent V through the interior of the vent V to the roof opening RO cut through the sheathing S.

A lower intermediate web 30 extends from the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12 substantially normal to the shield panel 12. The two opposite ends 32 and 34 of the lower intermediate web 30 are closely adjacent to, and extend along, the corresponding proximate portions of the two attachment flanges 22 and 24, i.e., in the same direction as the flanges 22 and 24 relative to the shield panel 12. A lower intermediate flange 36 depends from the lower intermediate web 30 in the opposite direction from the shield panel 12 substantially parallel thereto. A roof attachment flange 38 extends from the lower intermediate flange 36 substantially normal to the flange 36 and shield panel 12 and in a direction opposite the two vent attachment flanges 22 and 24.

Thus, the lower intermediate web 30 and lower intermediate flange 36 form an offset or “joggle” between the roof attachment flange 38 and the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12, with this offset serving to stiffen the panel 12 and roof attachment flange 38. Alternatively, the roof attachment flange 38 could be bent to extend directly from the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12, if so desired. The roof attachment flange 38 preferably includes a doubled, folded-under distal edge portion 40, again to provide additional stiffening and strength for the flange 38. The roof attachment flange 38 provides for the attachment of the shield 10 to the underlying roof structures by means of fasteners 26 of any suitable type. Conventional caulking, sealants, etc. would normally be used between the roof attachment flange 38 and the underlying roof surface, but are not shown in the drawings for clarity in the drawings.

The upper edge 18 of the shield panel 12 may also include one or more additional bent or folded flanges extending therefrom to stiffen and strengthen the structure. In FIGS. 1 and 2, an upper intermediate web 42 extends from the upper edge 18 of the shield panel 12 substantially normal to the shield panel 12. The two opposite ends 44 and 46 of the upper intermediate web 42 are closely adjacent to, and extend along, the corresponding proximate portions of the two attachment flanges 22 and 24, i.e., in the same direction as the flanges 22 and 24 relative to the shield panel 12.

A ventilation opening flange 48 extends from the upper intermediate web 42, substantially normal to the upper intermediate web and parallel to the shield panel 12. The ventilation opening flange 48 defines the edge of the ventilation opening 28 opposite the vent opening lip L of the roof vent V. As in the case of the roof attachment flange 38 extending from the lower edge 20 of the shield panel 12 (by means of the intervening web and flange), the ventilation opening flange 48 also preferably includes a folded over portion 50 to provide a doubled thickness. As the ventilation opening flange 48 is somewhat narrower than the roof attachment flange 38, the doubled portion 50 extends for substantially the entire width of the ventilation opening flange 48.

In conclusion, the roof vent shield 10 provides a great improvement for the roof vent by greatly reducing the entrance of windblown precipitation and/or debris into the vent opening. A conventional roof vent in combination with the roof vent shield provides the best of both worlds, i.e., relatively free flow of air through the vent, while simultaneously shielding the vent opening from windblown precipitation and/or debris. Accordingly, the roof vent shield will prove to be a most desirable accessory for homes and other building structures incorporating roof vents.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A roof vent shield for attachment to an installed roof vent, the roof vent shield comprising: a shield panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge opposite the upper edge; a first roof vent attachment flange extending from the first end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto; and a second roof vent attachment flange extending from the second end of the shield panel and substantially normal thereto.
 2. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, further including a roof attachment flange extending from the lower edge of the shield panel substantially normal thereto.
 3. The roof vent shield according to claim 2, further including: a lower intermediate web extending directly from the lower edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and a lower intermediate flange depending directly from the lower intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel, the roof attachment flange extending directly from the lower intermediate flange normal thereto and opposite the first and second roof attachment flanges.
 4. The roof vent shield according to claim 2, wherein the roof attachment flange further includes a doubled distal edge.
 5. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, further including: an upper intermediate web extending directly from the upper edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and a ventilation opening flange extending from the upper intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel.
 6. The roof vent shield according to claim 5, wherein the ventilation opening flange is doubled over at one end for additional thickness.
 7. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed in a single, homogeneous sheet of material.
 8. The roof vent shield according to claim 1, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed of material selected from the group consisting of galvanized sheet steel, corrosion resistant sheet steel, and aluminum sheet.
 9. A roof vent and roof vent shield therefor, comprising in combination: a roof vent having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper cover having a ventilation opening lip, and a roof vent entrance defined below the cover; a roof vent shield having; a shield panel having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, an upper edge, and a lower edge opposite the upper edge; a first roof vent attachment flange extending from the first end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the first flange being attached to the first end of the roof vent; and a second roof vent attachment flange extending from the second end of the shield panel substantially normal thereto, the second flange being attached to the second end of the roof vent, the ventilation opening lip of the roof vent and the upper edge of the shield panel defining a ventilation opening therebetween communicating with the roof vent entrance of the roof vent.
 10. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, wherein the roof vent comprises a slope type vent configured for attachment to the slope of a gabled roof below a ridge of the roof.
 11. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, further including a roof attachment flange extending from the lower edge of the shield panel substantially normal thereto.
 12. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 11, further including: a lower intermediate web extending directly from the lower edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and a lower intermediate flange depending directly from the lower intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel, the roof attachment flange extending directly from the lower intermediate flange normal thereto and opposite the first and second roof attachment flanges.
 13. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 11, wherein the roof attachment flange has a doubled distal edge.
 14. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, further including: an upper intermediate web extending directly from the upper edge of the shield panel normal thereto, the web having mutually opposed ends extending along corresponding portions of the first and second roof vent attachment flanges; and a ventilation opening flange extending from the upper intermediate web substantially parallel to the shield panel.
 15. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 14, wherein the ventilation opening flange is doubled over at one edge for additional thickness.
 16. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed in a single, homogeneous sheet of material.
 17. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, wherein the shield panel, the first roof vent attachment flange, and the second roof vent attachment flange are all formed of material selected from the group consisting of galvanized sheet steel, corrosion resistant sheet steel, and aluminum sheet.
 18. The roof vent and roof vent shield combination according to claim 9, further including a plurality of self-tapping screws securing the first and the second roof vent attachment flanges to the roof vent. 